Should choosing a new love interest in Mass Effect 2 be considered "cheating"? *SPOILERS AHEAD*

[The Extremist]

Just so we're clear, this thread is liable to be one gigantic spoiler, including my opening post. I also looked for a similar thread that might have been posted after the game's release, but couldn't find anything.

I have a few problems with the promises being made by the Mass Effect team about the repercussions of your choices regarding your romantic interest from ME1, to 2, to 3. This is specific to Liara, though.

First, a quote from a chat with CaseyH (presumably the creative lead, Casey Hudson). Thank you, reddit [http://reddit.com], for this obscure link.

CaseyH-ME2: To Guest-552 One thing I'm really excited to see is the achievement data that will show how faithful players are to their ME1 love interest. And the best part is, even though I expect most (almost all?) players will cheat on their ME1 love interest, that decision too will come back to haunt them in the next game!

The above quote makes it sound like your character will be made out to be a cheater in ME3 if s/he chose a new romantic interest over Liara.

Alright... Last chance... Heavy spoilers start now.

Which, considering the way she treats you in ME2, strikes me as unfair. I can kinda understand how Kaidan or Ashley might feel betrayed given the messages they send you after Horizon, but Liara can be left with no leg to stand on. There are essentially two scenarios.

1. You start pursuing another love interest before you find Liara in ME2.
2. You don't.

In the case of the first scenario, Liara has reason to be angry (provided she can find out exactly when you started romancing your new crewmate). Your character could be somewhat justified, however, by stating that it had been 2 years and he'd assumed Liara would've moved on since she was young and he was dead.

In the second scenario there really isn't a reason your decision should "come back to haunt you." Unless Liara goes nuts for some reason (which would suck -- it seems like an easy way out, story-wise). Liara makes it absolutely clear that she'd rather pursue vengeance over the death of a friend than be with you on a mission to save the galaxy. She even refers to you as nothing more than a "friend" when you argue with her about her obsession with the Shadow Broker.

tl;dr: I don't it'll be fair for your decision to pursue a new romantic interest over Liara in ME2 to "come back to haunt you" in ME3 without Liara at least giving you an opportunity to explain.

 

[Amnestic]

Which, considering the way she treats you in ME2, strikes me as unfair. I can kinda understand how Kaidan or Ashley might feel betrayed given the messages they send you after Horizon

Fucking sucks to be them. All they did was whine about Cerberus on Horizon even though the two allies I brought me were clearly not crazy human xenophobes on account of one being mother-loving-Garrus and the other being Grunt.

"Oh no Shepard, you didn't contact me for two years!"
"Well I was dead."
"WELL YOU STILL COULD HAVE TOLD ME."
"Well I did ask Anderson what you were up to but he wouldn't tell me."
"WELL SCREW YOU I'M LEAVING."

Frankly? They deserved to be cheated on. Plus Kaiden was totally making eyes at that Lilith chick on Horizon.

If it comes down to choosing between my ME1 interest and my ME2 interest, there's no doubt in my mind. My ME2 interest wins out, easily.

 

[Poomanchu745]

I have a feeling that Bioware will not make it a big deal in the third game. I was hoping I could cheat on one love interest in ME2 with another. I thought that would be funny, especially if the two found out you were sleeping with both.

 

[hazabaza1]

Well, my ME1 Shepard import had no love interest, and until I see the ladies of ME3, that's when I'll decide to have a ME2 love interest.

Liara was a total ***** to me and treated me like shit. I hope the shadow broker hires some thugs to eat her eyes.
Besides. Miranda has a epic ass. If Liara does not want me then so be it.

Oh god, I am just imagining ME3, you all happy with your new fuck buddy (assuming s/he survives the suicide mission) then Liara/Ashley shows up. "This is your child..." DUN-DUN-DUUUUUUNNNN!
Or for extra fun if you played as a female, Kaiden. "This is your child, you were pregnant when you died so Cerberus also rebuilt them."

Uhhh... pregnancy normally takes 9 months, not 2-3 years.

 

[Chipperz]

I actually stayed faithful to Liara on my Paragon playthrough, even after she was the queen of all bitches to me. I did get Kelly as a lapdancer because, you know, suicide missions are stressful! If Liara remains a *****, I'll get myself some more fun in #3.

On my renegade play through, I boned Ashley, Miranda and Jack. I got the email from Kelly, but calling her up gets Miranda, who doesn't dance for me on command in a stripper outfit

 

[The Extremist]

I consider her hardened attitude towards you in ME2 to be a test of sorts, purposefully tempting you to move on. If you resist, you should be rewarded in ME3. No doubt she will have probably found and killed the Shadow Broker by the time you get into the story of ME3. Or maybe you help her with that during the game. Either way, after that whole ordeal is over, she will probably once again become viable as a love interest.
...

If you want to stay with Liara but need to see a sex scene in ME2 for whatever reason (achievement, etc), then just save, have sex with whoever, and reload your save.

I think we're approaching this discussion from two different perspectives. I'm actually talking about the fairness of Liara 'making you regret your decision' in terms of plot, story, character, not in terms of game dynamic.

Now that we're on the topic of game dynamic, however, should being able to pursue Liara as a love interest in ME3 not be reward enough for sticking by her despite her abuse?

Besides, she gives you a kiss when first meeting her if you were with her in ME1. Good enough for me. I don't need constant sex to remind me that I'm in a relationship. It may have technically been over two years, but it's only been a month or two to Shepard.

It's not about the fact that there's no potential romantic sub-plot (or "sex scene" in Mass Effect terms) with Liara. It's about how she treats you versus how you're expected to act in return in order to avoid her potential wrath.

 

[Nokterne]

I hated both Kaiden and Ashely, so no loss there. They both basically serve as an outlet for my hatred of humanity in this game.

Liara annoys me as well, though not to the same extent. I'm playing through ME1 right now with the intent on not having a love interest. My love interest in ME2 will probably be Miranda for renegade and Jack for paragon. Or perhaps Tali. Who knows?

 

[LordMoose]

*Ahem*

"How could you cheat on me sheppard?! After all we've been through?!"
Damn It Liara i left you in the the recruitment roster and took Tali and Wrex with me everytime i went out! That wasnt a hint at all? You threw yourself at me, and i appreciated that because i've been in the military since i was 18, but in case you hadnt noticed, I have the life expectancy of a Pet Fish Compared To You! It's been two years, long years to you it seemed, You've changed Liara.
"... bu-" And another thing! You're this big ol' information broker, and already knew about my excistance as of late, before i even got near illium. What, you couldnt send me an email? fly out and say hi? Instead you're stuck up in your whole shadow broker issue, im good with being a friend, and helping you out to deal with whatever happened, but let me be clear. It is over between us.

Come on Tali, lets go see Blasto.

 

[TruthbTold]

Ok, this topic has been all over the place since Mass Effect 2's release. First off, do multiple playthroughs if you're worried about the potential backlash of "cheating" in Mass Effect 3. Secondly, think about the whole situation from Ash, Kaiden, and Liara's point of view. Ash and Kaiden are pretty obvious about they're feelings for you, apologizing and talking about the future. They are upset at first, understandibly, considering you show up after 2 years working with Ceberus, a shady terrorist cell. However, it is clear there is an attachment on their end.
As for Liara, the main problem with most of you is you never go into deep enough dialogue to really understand the situation. Liara is constantly being watched, so she cannot show too much emotion. And :SPOILER: Liara is the reason you're alive. She went on a mission, recovered your body from the shadow broker, who happened to steal you and attempt to sell you to the collectors, and gave you to Ceberus where you were later revived. Thats good enough reason to have a vendetta against the shadow broker, and clearly she still has strong emotional ties. /thread

 

[LordMoose]

I know that part, and shep talked with her a lot, and wasnt given the whole story. HE doesnt know. From Renegade Shep's viewpoint, Liara has changed a lot for the worse. It'll be awkward when he learns this.
And if she was really worried about sheppard being attacked because of her, she forgot how good shep is. I'll be damned if the shadow broker can get to my main party aboard the Normandy, and im pretty sure i could take any of the navigators or engineers aboard... -.-

 

[The Madman]

Keep in mind it's been two years for them since you 'died', and neither Kaiden nor Ashley had any clue you might still be alive. Both had only just started to get over your loss and both had bad experience with Cerberus. I can understand them being more than a little confused and angry when after two years you suddenly show up again like nothing ever happened except now you're working with the enemy. I would be!

It would have struck me as unrealistic if they 'hadn't' acted the way they did.

Liara however, her case is a bit less easy consider not only did she know you might still live but she personally handed you over to Cerberus...

 

[LordMoose]

Well my Sheppard just plain loathes Cerberus with a passion. Sole Survivor.
And it will be very awkward at that point when he gets the whole story. I just hope i have enough paragon or renegade points to keep liara from killing tali in a biotic fueled rage. Because she'll have to go through me. Maybe i could just turn her into Samara first :3

 

[Uszi]

Liara changed completely in those two years.
She's clearly NOT the character you romanced in ME1.

IMHO, she changed for the worse.

Therefore, leaving her for someone new was an acceptable play in my book. I don't even feel bad.

Ashley might be a little different...


OT, is it considered "cheating" though?
I mean, if you die, and come back, and form new romantic relationships because past flames have moved on, I don't see it as cheating either.

 

[Loop Stricken]

I only bedded the blue bird for the achievement, I was thinking of Tali all the time. And now in ME3 I might get the chance to kill her off? I'm down with that, dawg.

 

[Jark212]

Cheat? It's been two years, and Ashley left me, the relationship is clearly over. It's not like we got married...

I'm with Tali now, she likes me for who I am, not that I'm the savior of the Universe. That's why I love her, and intend to stay faithful to her in ME3...

 

[McNinja]

Ok. Everyone who thinks Liara is a ***** needs to learn to read. And press buttons. You need to go deeper in the dialouge or find it on youtube (why Liara is hardened).

She stole you from the Shadow Broker, who was going to sell you to the Collectors. She is the reason you are alive, and not dead as a doorknob.

On topic: yes, it should be cheating, because that's what it is.

 

[Bad Cluster]

Just romance Morinth, she won't let you down
True femme fatale!

 

[LordMoose]

Well if Sheppard never learns that, then he thinks Liara is a *****. That's how it works.
Tali on the other hand is showing loads of affection and admiration, which has proven useful in melting sheppard's frozen heart. Because he DIED, that'll usually change you a bit. he didnt have a near death experience, he had a death experience.